This was such a good sequel and didnt disapoint. It was great to be back. It did take me a little but of time to get back into the story but once i did it was an easy read for me.

I again loved the banter, the tension, all the angst. The slow burn was great. I think it felt more romance focused than plot to me, but Im a romantasy fan so I loved it. I think i prefer this one to number one, but after the ending I cant wait for book 3!

After reading the Hurricane Wars I had been looking forward to this. It did not disappoint. So dramatic, full of scheming and the relationship between the main characters became more complex. Well worth a read.

A Monsoon Rising is a fantastic sequel to The Hurricane Wars, centered around the incoming danger of the Moonless Dark and the ever-growing tension between Alaric and Talasyn.

Written in a flowing and pleasant narrative style, that also takes its time to accurately portray the rich and fascinating ensemble of sceneries in which the story takes place, A Monsoon Rising may be a second book, but it also stands so well on its own: the plot is in fact extremely captivating, with some brilliant twists and brief expansions to the world-building, and well intertwined with the emotional evolution of the characters.

The development of the relationship between Alaric (who was even grumpier than usual) and Talasyn was delightfully executed, handling with care and depth the difficulties both of them have in confronting and accepting the feelings they have for each other, due to their traumatic pasts and the looming threat of mutual betrayal. What I loved the most is that even with all of this they still feel entirely safe with each other, and consequently they allow themselves – even if not always with ease – to be vulnerable in a way they had never been with anyone else, and that simultaneously warmed my heart and broke it a little bit.

The cliffhanger was pretty brutal and I have SO MANY QUESTIONS about the whole affair, which makes me especially excited for the third (and unfortunately) final book. Honestly, I can’t recommend A Monsoon Rising and the series as a whole enough – it’s such an entertaining and unique fantasy story, with one of my all-time favorite enemies-to-lovers relationships.

3.5ish stars. It took me a while to get through this in the beginning because I could not recall much of what happened in book 1, about 35% of the way in I finally remembered bits and pieces slowly. Overall this was a decent read but I liked book 1 much more.

I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley!!
I adored this book I didn't know what to expect going in but it gripped me from start to finish
I have a full review on Amazon, Goodreads and Fable

Because it felt like I read The Hurricane Wars quite a while ago, it took me a little while to get back into the story, but once I did, I found myself hooked. The relationship between Alaric and Talasyn is perfection. There’s slow burning, and it feels well developed and full of tension in all the right ways and still so satisfying! Can’t wait to see where things go in book 3!

Monsoon Rising picks up right where *The Hurricane Wars* left off, and let me tell you—the enemies-to-lovers tension is OFF THE CHARTS.

Alaric and Talasyn are stuck in this political marriage that's supposed to end a war, but surprise! Being married to your sworn enemy is awkward as hell. She's secretly plotting to overthrow him while he's trying to save the world from some apocalyptic magical disaster called the Moonless Dark. Oh, and they're the only ones who can stop it by combining their light and shadow magic. No pressure! But here's the thing—the longer they're forced together, the harder it gets to ignore the lightning crackling between them. The banter? *Chef's kiss.* The sexual tension? Could cut it with a knife.

This book leans way more into the romance than the first one (though the political scheming is still juicy), and watching these two fight their feelings while literally everyone is telling them to betray each other? Pure torture in the best way. The Southeast Asian-inspired world building continues to be gorgeous, and SO much is set up for the next book. I'm already dying to know what happens next!

A storm of magic, deception, and tangled loyalties, A Monsoon Rising delivers sweeping romance and high-stakes intrigue—but sometimes loses momentum in the calm between the chaos.

✨ A marriage built on strategy, not trust ⚔️ A rebellion simmering beneath the surface 🌑 A looming catastrophe that demands uneasy alliances

Guanzon crafts a world brimming with tension, where love and war collide in dazzling bursts of emotion. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Talasyn and Alaric is charged, their chemistry undeniable, but the pacing leans heavily into the romance, leaving the political intrigue feeling underdeveloped. The stakes are high, the angst is palpable, but at times, I wanted more urgency—more fire behind the rebellion, more depth to the looming threat.

If you love slow-burning romance, lush worldbuilding, and characters caught between duty and desire, this one will keep you invested—just be prepared for the plot to take its time unfolding.

I was genuinely surprised by how much I loved A Monsoon Rising. As someone who gravitates toward stories rich in political intrigue, I found Guanzon’s execution absolutely spot-on. The tension between the Moonless Dark and the clashing agendas of Talasyn and Alaric kept the stakes high and the pages turning. The political machinations were sharp, layered, and satisfyingly complex—just the way I like them.

The pacing was masterfully done. Guanzon strikes that rare balance between action and emotional depth, which kept me fully immersed and reluctant to put the book down. One of the biggest highlights for me was the relationship development between Talasyn and Alaric. Their enemies-to-lovers dynamic was given the space to breathe and evolve, and the chemistry between them was undeniable. Watching them navigate their feelings, complete with endearing awkwardness and tension - was an absolute delight.

Alaric, in particular, really came into his own in this installment. His dry humor and internal conflict added so much nuance to his character, and I found myself loving his scenes even more this time around.

And that ending! Guanzon does not pull punches. The final moments are a jaw-dropping cliffhanger that left me reeling and desperate for the next book. I can't wait to see where the story goes from here.

Highly recommend this one to fans of epic romance, intricate politics, and high-stakes drama. A Monsoon Rising is a standout sequel that more than delivers.

It was the same issue I had with the first one with having difficulties getting into it. I did feel a bit lost with all the details and felt like it was a me issue since I have been in a book slump so I definitely feel like a night reread this again at a later date.

I was still fully invested in Talasyn and Alaric romance and wanted to make it to the end to see what will happen next. As well as see what would become with Alaric’s father.

<b>Thank you to Thea Guanzon, NetGalley, and Harper Collins for the chance to read and review this e-arc in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions remain my own.</b>

“I want to kiss you and burn the world to ash in the same breath.”

Tropes you’ll find inside:
🔥enemies-to-lovers
🔥reluctant alliance
🔥slow burn
🔥political intrigue
🔥magic as a weapon.

Okay, why did I wait so long to read this? A Monsoon Rising by @theaguanzon picks up right where The Hurricane Wars left us hanging, and it does not let up.
There’s power plays and political games galore, and I was obsessed with the emotional complexity between Talasyn and Alaric.
The tension? Palpable.
The pining? Painful.
The reveals? So worth it.
And let’s not ignore how lush the worldbuilding is… every chapter pulls you deeper into a kingdom teetering on the edge of war and desire.

This is very much a sequel that rewards your patience. A romantasy series that mixes rebellion with longing and gives you characters who bleed for their cause and each other.
DEVINE!


Next book is currently untitled, but I’m counting down the days.


Appreciate Harper Collins UK for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What an excellent 2nd book to this series. I was anxious to keep reading but I’m glad I did because it didn’t disappoint.
You couldn’t guess the ending which is what’s best about well written books. It was unpredictable. If you guessed it then how?!
Personally I think this 2nd book is better than the 1st. More fast paced and intriguing.
Can’t wait for book 3

I loved this book. So much so that I went and bought two different pretty versions for my bookshelf. The recap in the first couple of chapters really helped me get into the swing of reading the sequel without needing to reread the first.

This book was an amazing fantasy book and I was really well written. The world building was absolutely incredible and truly imaginative.
The next book sounds absolutely amazing and I’m looking forward to readying it!!

Thank you to Netgalley for sharing this book with me. I loved the book one and this one is not disappointing either. It is very well written and I had an amazing time reading it!
I cannot wait for the conclusion of the trilogy:)

I liked how everything was tied up, but after not enjoying the first book as much as I thought I was going to, this one was just ok for me. I found it too slow burn for my taste.

But I know this story is very much loved by most!

Thank you for my copy

I was a such a big fan of the first book and I'm so happy I got a NetGalley approved ARC!

I enjoyed this book so much better than the first, and absolutely loved the tension between the fmc and mmc. I am a huge slow burn enemies to lovers romantasy lover, and this book really did not disappoint.

My only gripe is the ending. It was awful being left on that cliffhanger, I need the next book NOW.

I've been waiting so so long for this! I loved every second.

I'm not sure what she laces the pages with but I couldn't out this down

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I wasn't as big a fan of the first book as a lot of people, but I did think that this one did a good job of tying things up and it was an interesting take on the 'end of the world' trope. However I did feel like the relationship was a little too slow-burny and I just got a bit fed up of them not talking to each other about the important things!

I enjoyed this one more than the first book- the tension, the yearning, the will they/ won’t they!!
The world building is complex, and took a moment for me to get back to where we left off in book one. Despite the high stakes plot, the romance continues to be my fav part of the story. I can’t wait to see what happens next!